Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 17:20
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And David rose up early in the morning, etc.] Being very ready and eager to obey his father’s orders, and visit his brethren: and left the sheep with a keeper; which showed his care and faithfulness in the discharge of his office; he was not unmindful of his father’s sheep, any more than of his commands: and took; the ephah of parched corn, the ten loaves, and the ten cheeses: and went, as Jesse had commanded him; went and carried them to the camp, according to his orders: and he came to the trench; foss or ditch, which was cast up all around the army, partly to prevent the enemy falling on them before, and partly to prevent deserters from them behind; or the word signifying a wagon or carriage, which is here used, this might be a fence around the camp made of wagons fastened to each other; though it may only signify, the camp itself, which lay in a circular form, with proper guards about it to watch the enemy. Now David came up to it just as the host was going forth to the fight; preparing and getting every thing ready to the battle, and in motion, and upon the march to meet the enemy: and shouted for the battle; which was usually done when about to make the onset, to animate the soldiers, and strike the greater terror into the enemy; and this noise was sometimes made with the voice in a hideous and howling way, and was called “barritus” f368 by the Romans; with the Trojans it was like the noise of cranes in the air f369; it was also attended with the clashing of shields and spears f370; with the Persians, it was a rough, boisterous, and confused noise f371.
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